Republican presidential candidate John McCain started his first television ad of the general election Friday.

In it, he portrays himself as an experienced leader capable of keeping the country safe. The commercial also called him "the American president Americans have been waiting for."

The 30-second commercial coincides with McCain's "Service to America" tour next week, when he will give a series of speeches.

While McCain is well-known among Republican loyalists, strategists say the country knows little about him and his life story. These are two things he hopes the ad and tour will help portray.

Joining Forces

McCain also joined forces with former rival Mitt Romney Thursday in Salt Lake City, hoping to draw on Romney's popularity in Utah and Colorado.

Despite their rivalry during the primary campaign, Romney said he will do all he can to help McCain.

At one point in the ad, the 71-year-old stands behind a podium at a campaign rally, saying: "Keep that faith. Keep your courage. Stick together. Stay strong. Do not yield. Stand up. We're Americans. And we'll never surrender."

Then, he is shown a young Naval aviator being interviewed as he lays in a hospital bed after being shot down and tortured in Vietnam.